AMS ABS conference 2026
A special joint conference of The Australian Mammal Society (AMS) and The Australasian Bat Society (ABS) will be held from 6th – 9th July 2026.
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the research and conservation efforts being undertaken on all ammals, both flying and non-flying. The conference will be held at The Australian Academy of Science's Shine Dome in Canberra, ACT. This conference will be predominantly in person, or you can listen in online.
Key dates and information
- Abstracts due: 20th April 2026
- Earlybird registration closes: 4th May 2026
- Normal registration closes: 8th June 2026
- Venue: Shine Dome, 15 Gordon St, Acton, Canberra ACT.
- Registration: Now open
- Travel grants: Apply now
- Conference T-shirts: Three fantastic designs in a range of sizes and two styles
- Accommodation: A range of accommodation options are available with some special conference deals
If you have any queries, please contact the organising committee. amsabs26@gmail.com
Please click on the text in blue font in the sections above and in the information provided below, for more information. Once you have read all the information provided here and are ready to register, please click this link
The theme of the conference is ‘Science is not finished until it is communicated’. We are taking the broadest possible interpretation of this, including politicians, policymakers and public servants, in addition to research scientists and the general community. To explore this topic in more detail we are holding a science communications panel discussion on Monday evening, which will set the scene for the conference perfectly.
The conference will feature an engaging program of talks and posters covering the full breadth of mammal research and conservation.
Presentations will be delivered by scientists, practitioners, and mammal (non-flying and flying) enthusiasts from across the Australasian region. The formal program, combined with a dynamic mix of social events, field sessions, and informal discussions, promises to inform and inspire delegates over four full days, including a day (Monday 6th July) of two concurrent symposiums – one focusing on Dasyurids of the Past, Present and Future and the other on Bats and Wind Farms: Research to Inform Risk Reduction. Due to the very generous sponsorship by Colossal Australia/TIGRR Lab, students who are members of the AMS or ABS can attend these symposiums for free! The conference program will run on Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9th July. An Early Career Researcher (ECR) workshop will be held on Sunday 5th July prior to the conference.
A range of exciting formal and informal social events are being planned, including a welcome function that will be held after the ECR workshop on Sunday 5th July, and a conference dinner (Wednesday 8th July). As is a tradition at AMS conferences, there will be informal dinners for ‘young buggers’ and ‘older buggers’ (7th July). A short post-conference field trip to Mulligans Flat is being planned for Thursday night and there are other interesting post-conference workshops and tours being planned. Further details are provided below or will be added to the website when available.
Both The Australian Mammal Society Annual General Meeting and The Australasian Bat Society, Inc. Annual General Meeting will be held during the conference.
Conference itinerary
- Sunday (day) 5th July – ECR workshop
- Sunday (evening) 5th July – Welcome function (Smith’s Alternative Book shop and Café)
- Monday (day) 6th July – Concurrent symposia
- Monday (evening) 6th July – Science communication panel discussion
- Tuesday - Thursday (day) 7th to 9th July – Joint Conference AMS & ABS
- Tuesday (evening) 7th July – Informal gatherings for dinner (optional)
- Wednesday (late afternoon) 8th July – AMS and ABS AGMs
- Wednesday (evening) 8th July – Conference dinner
- Thursday (evening) 9th July – Field trip to Mulligans Flat (optional)
- Friday (day) 10th July – Workshops and tours (optional)
- Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July – Weekend post-conference field trips
